Thailand

[NickBHAFC18]

Yeah for the fullmoon party i would book accommodation early, we stayed a few days before the party and there was so much going on. Coral Bungalows is a great place to stay, and at night they throw some quality pool parties.

 

[Billy the Fish]

Don't go to Pattaya, Phuket or Samui (If you must PLEASE do not think it is Thailand, It may aswell be Zante/Benidorm etc)

Head to Ko Phi Phi (Very touresty) but worth it for the surrounding islands, It's a funky little island in which there is no motorised vehicles at all just push bikes etc.
.

Agreed, Patong beach in Phuket is basically benidorm.

Even Phi Phi is just lads holiday fodder for aussies and backpackers, good fun but I was bored of it after a few days.


I'd definitely love to do some of the less built up islands in the south, I've been to Ko Lanta and loved it. Go to Phi Phi for 3 days and go mental then go south down to Ko Tao or anything else round there before it gets spoilt.

 

[dannyboy]

koh samui is quite nice in the north of the island . just stay away from the main town (cant rememebr its name)

 

[mike79]

that would be chaweng beach

found that ok tbh and can get the speedboat to the full moon party

angthong marine park is also a great day trip there

bangkok too hot and polluted

 

[rudeboy]

if ya going for the ladies pattaya. cheap hotels and cheap food. nightlife is pretty good lol. if ya after temples, sightseeing, lovely islands this is not your place.

 

[seagully]

Thanks for all the advice guys, sounds like the common consensus is that the more well known places are a bit touristy nowadays which is what I had expected. Will definitely try to check out some of the suggestions.

 

[shoreham moonraker]

there is a fantastic little island just 2 hours from bangkok towards cambodia called ko samed, its fantastic stay at pudsa bungalows, not as commercial as the southern islands.

 

[terryberry1]

there is a fantastic little island just 2 hours from bangkok towards cambodia called ko samed, its fantastic stay at pudsa bungalows, not as commercial as the southern islands.

This. Although i crashed a motorbike there..... and broke my wrist

 

[Dr. Notthenineo'clocknews]

Don't go to Pattaya, Phuket or Samui (If you must PLEASE do not think it is Thailand, It may aswell be Zante/Benidorm etc)

don't you just love comments like this?, I'll be holidaying this year on the Mongolian plains, I did fancy North Korea although it was a little out of my price range as I've already booked a weekend break in Bengazi

 

[Drumstick]

don't you just love comments like this?, I'll be holidaying this year on the Mongolian plains, I did fancy North Korea although it was a little out of my price range as I've already booked a weekend break in Bengazi

Its true though, Why spend so much money going somewhere in which the only difference the price of the full english? When you can head to Zante?

Nothing of any interest expect big parties/booze/buckets/beach/sun, You can get that else where. Pattaya was maybe abit harsh but still not great.

 

[piersa]

koh Samui used to be good but you would be well advised to give it a miss these days. If you are after what is in Koh Samui these days, save yourself some cash and go to Tenerife.

 

[piersa]

there is a fantastic little island just 2 hours from bangkok towards cambodia called ko samed, its fantastic stay at pudsa bungalows, not as commercial as the southern islands.

Ko Samed is indeed a lovely place still.

 

[Wilko]

BOUNCE!

Has anyone been to Thailand over Christmas/New year time? Also, am I right in thinking that you cannot do a direct flight? Cheers for you help nsc

 

[StonehamPark]

Wish I saw this thread earlier. I used to live and work in Thailand as a tour op bouncing around between Bangkok and Krabi and everywhere in-between.
If you need any advice on where to go off the beaten track or anything else, give me a shout.

Definite no-no's that will only waste your time and money.

Don't bother with:
Bangkok (for longer than 3 days)
Samui
Koh Phangan (Unless you want the beach parties. Ironically the parties are much more enjoyable away from full-moon, and they are most definitely not fenced off, where the f*** did that come from?!)
Krabi (Go to Ao-Nang instead, right next door)
Phi-Phi (Difficult one here, happily do the island tours but f*** the group trip, pay a longtail driver an extra tenner to take you out for the day and see the sights without the flocks or rush. Also, only do Phi Phi if you do the overnight camping trip there.)
Kanchanaburi (Same points as above, althought getting up close and personal with the Tigers is a once in a lifetime.)
Ko Chang (Too far out of the way and anything you can do here, you can do x100 more on the smaller islands)
Phuket (Worst of the lot)

Places to go:
Pie (Next to Chaing Mai)
Chaing Mai
Kanchanaburi (NOT within a group excursion)
Ko Samet (Someone above mentioned it as 'Samed'. Ok place)
Koh Tao (Turtle island, great for diving and lazing on a decent beach)
Koh Phangan (Only thing worthwhile here is half-moon party, pool party at Coral Bungalows and the beach parties which happen every day, not just full moon when then it's just hasstle!)
Koh Angthong (Marine park, follow Alex Garland's footsteps and find 'The Beach')
Ao-Nang (Alternative to Krabi & Phuket but not as in your face and rude)
Khao Sok (floating bungalows near Suratthani, top of my Thailand list)

Please get in touch if you want any info, I love talking Thailand!

 

[StonehamPark]

BOUNCE!

Has anyone been to Thailand over Christmas/New year time? Also, am I right in thinking that you cannot do a direct flight? Cheers for you help nsc

Eva Air do directs.
I've lived and worked over Xmas & NY. Ask away bud!

 

[bn1&bn3 Albion]

Been to both Phuket and Pattaya, if you are looking for that sort of thing I would recommend Pattaya. Its a much bigger and cheaper version of Phuket, also Pattaya has I think 3/4 multi story shopping centers.

 

[StonehamPark]

Been to both Phuket and Pattaya, if you are looking for that sort of thing I would recommend Pattaya. Its a much bigger and cheaper version of Phuket, also Pattaya has I think 3/4 multi story shopping centers.

Please tell me your joking? Pattaya should have been at the top of the no go list with Phuket.
Pattaya in no way, shape or form is Thailand. What a pit.
If the guy wants to shop, do it on the back end of his trip in Bangkok.

 

[bn1&bn3 Albion]

Please tell me your joking? Pattaya should have been at the top of the no go list with Phuket.
Pattaya in no way, shape or form is Thailand. What a pit.
If the guy wants to shop, do it on the back end of his trip in Bangkok.

Thats why I said if he is looking for that type of thing, I never said if you want to experience Thailand go to these places.

 

[Wilko]

Wish I saw this thread earlier. I used to live and work in Thailand as a tour op bouncing around between Bangkok and Krabi and everywhere in-between.
If you need any advice on where to go off the beaten track or anything else, give me a shout.

Definite no-no's that will only waste your time and money.

Don't bother with:
Bangkok (for longer than 3 days)
Samui
Koh Phangan (Unless you want the beach parties. Ironically the parties are much more enjoyable away from full-moon, and they are most definitely not fenced off, where the f*** did that come from?!)
Krabi (Go to Ao-Nang instead, right next door)
Phi-Phi (Difficult one here, happily do the island tours but f*** the group trip, pay a longtail driver an extra tenner to take you out for the day and see the sights without the flocks or rush. Also, only do Phi Phi if you do the overnight camping trip there.)
Kanchanaburi (Same points as above, althought getting up close and personal with the Tigers is a once in a lifetime.)
Ko Chang (Too far out of the way and anything you can do here, you can do x100 more on the smaller islands)
Phuket (Worst of the lot)

Places to go:
Pie (Next to Chaing Mai)
Chaing Mai
Kanchanaburi (NOT within a group excursion)
Ko Samet (Someone above mentioned it as 'Samed'. Ok place)
Koh Tao (Turtle island, great for diving and lazing on a decent beach)
Koh Phangan (Only thing worthwhile here is half-moon party, pool party at Coral Bungalows and the beach parties which happen every day, not just full moon when then it's just hasstle!)
Koh Angthong (Marine park, follow Alex Garland's footsteps and find 'The Beach')
Ao-Nang (Alternative to Krabi & Phuket but not as in your face and rude)
Khao Sok (floating bungalows near Suratthani, top of my Thailand list)

Please get in touch if you want any info, I love talking Thailand!

Great advice, thanks for your help. I definitely want to experience 'true' Thailand and not the commercialised mass touristy bits. Assuming I am flying in and out of Bangkok, what is the best way to travel around the country?

 

[StonehamPark]

Great advice, thanks for your help. I definitely want to experience 'true' Thailand and not the commercialised mass touristy bits. Assuming I am flying in and out of Bangkok, what is the best way to travel around the country?

Just finishing work now, I'll write out a good bit of info for you tomorrow matey.